James started working in his Dad’s machine shop at age 11, cleaning up and running the saw. After he finished his bachelor’s degree in business from Sam Houston State University, he began working full time as a machinist and in the office quoting work. He now manages the business with his wife Kim. His daughter Kristen and son Kyle have joined the company and they look forward to many more years of providing the same quality products and on time delivery that has made Schmidt Tool & Manufacturing what it is today.

Bill & Gloria Schmidt moved from Chicago with their son James, to Willis Texas in 1979 and they started Schmidt Tool & Manufacturing in 1981 in a rented barn with a dirt floor. Bill’s experience and reputation as a tool maker quickly led to a high demand for precision machined parts and industrial equipment. With the support and hard work of Gloria in the office, they had a very successful 35 years in business. They have passed the day to day operations over to James. Bill now enjoys working on his custom built hot rods and making shop deliveries and Gloria helps out in the office a few days a week.

Kim finished her bachelor’s degree in business from Sam Houston State University, with a minor in office administration, in 1989, and began to work at Schmidt Tool & Manufacturing. She has been the office manager for the past 10 years, taking care of accounting, shipping, and phone calls. She has been happily married to James Schmidt for 28 years. Her daughter Kristen is her assistant, and they share the office with their Chihuahua mix, Bailey, and the much larger but gentle Siberian husky, Shiner.

Ted began to work for Schmidt Tool & Manufacturing as a CNC operator and manual machinist in 1998. From his previous business venture he sold Schmidt Tool & Manufacturing their first CNC mill machining center, and was the CNC mill department lead man and programmer until 2007 when he began working in design and engineering. He now manages that department and is responsible for the sales calls and technical support for the R.I.P. Steady Rest products that the business has been making since 2005.